[[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/220px-911film_202.jpg]]->''There's a saying in the fire service: When you go too long without any fires, be prepared: Something big is coming.''-->--'''RobertDeNiro''', introducing this film for the first airing.

While the films ''Film/{{United 93}}'' and ''World Trade Center'' are reenactments, ''[[RealLife this is the real deal]]''.

''9/11'' is a [[{{Documentary}} documentary film]] of the attack on the World Trade Center in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity by brothers Jules and Gedeon Naudet (pronounced "No-day") and James Hanlon.

It is comprised of footage they filmed as they followed a probationary firefighter, Tony Benetatos, in his journey to become a full fledged firefighter in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity. As the weeks go by, the brothers get great footage of the life of firefighters, but none of any "real" fires.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Jules goes out with some of the firefighters to investigate a gas smell. He hears a loud rumble in the air and turns his camera upward... to capture one of only three known videos of American Airlines Flight 11 hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Jules accompanies the firefighters to the World Trade Center and films them (the only footage captured inside the towers that morning) as they do their best to handle the situation. While Jules follows these firefighters, he hears the second plane crash into the south tower. A bit later, the firefighters hear some rumbling, so they and Jules scramble to safety at the foot of an escalator as the south tower begins to collapse above them. Disoriented in the dust as it settles, Jules and the firefighters find their way outside. As the firefighters try to set up a second command center, the north tower collapses.

Gedeon had remained at the firehouse that morning to capture Tony's reactions. He walks down to the World Trade Center and captured both United Airlines Flight 175 hitting the South Tower and the collapse of said tower.

Both filmmakers survived the day. All of the firefighters from the firehouse they were following survived, too.

CBS aired the documentary without commercial interruption on 10 March 2002, six months after the attacks. Creator/SteveBuscemi[[note]]Who had been a NYC firefighter before becoming an actor. On 9/11 he dropped everything and went to New York to help out his old firehouse.[[/note]] and Creator/RobertDeNiro[[note]]Famous (among other roles, of course) for playing a firefighter in the movie ''Film/{{Backdraft}}''[[/note]] hosted. The network later re-aired the documentary on the fifth and tenth anniversaries of the attacks.

If you are thinking "This is all RealLife, how can there be tropes?", it's the tropes that make it interesting to watch whether they were intentionally put there or not.

----!!Tropes:

* ActionSurvivor: Chief Pfeiffer, Jules and several other firefighters not only escape the collapsing South Tower (which is coming down on them as they flee), but also escape the North Tower's collapse.* AsideGlance: Some of the firefighters in the North Tower lobby glance at the camera as they look around in shock.* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The filmmakers are told this when they mention that there haven't been any big fires lately.* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: In a horrific, real situation.-->'''Firefighter Joe Casaliggi:''' "How bad is it up there that the better option is to ''jump''?"* BittersweetEnding: While every member of Battalion 1 survives, many other fire companies are beset with casualties (or are wiped out completely), the towers are gone, thousands are dead and they're left struggling to clean up the wreckage. The final scene, however, notes that things do eventually return to normal, as the battalion heads out to more calls.* {{Bowdlerisation}}: Averted. CBS aired the documentary without any editing of language used by both the filmmakers and the firefighters (which includes several '''very''' audible instances of the word 'fuck'). Given the subject matter and the historical importance of the film, no one disputed CBS' decision.** There is the obligatory content advisory at the beginning of the documentary. * TheCameo: Midway through the film (at 58:40 on the DVD), Mayor Rudy Giuliani can be seen walking past the car Gedeon is riding in.* CameraAbuse: Jules' and Gedeon's cameras constantly shake (due to their surprise at what's happening and when they're running), gets dropped several times and is constantly filed with dust on the lens.* CheerfulChild: In the shots of dust-covered people walking away from the Trade Center, a police officer is escorting a woman with a stroller, with both wearing masks. The child in the stroller is holding her mask up high in the air, blissfully riding.* CookingShow: As the weeks go by and there are no major fires, one of the filmmakers says that it seems they're making one of these.* [[CoveredInGunge Covered in Dust]]: Everyone near the collapse.* DaylightHorror: The horror and death occurs on a bright, sunny Tuesday morning.* TheDeadHaveNames:** One of the final scenes has a radio broadcast list the names of missing and presumed dead firefighters.** In the anniversary airings, Chief Pfeiffer stands at a memorial wall and remembers some of the men who died during the day's events.* DeadpanSnarker: Upon reaching the North Tower's lobby:-->'''Captain Dennis Tardio''': "I... joked about it. I said the command post was abandoned. The board was set up and nobody was there. I said 'Oh, this is not a good sign.'"* {{Determinator}}: Given the heroism of the men and women during the attacks, this is frequent:** Chief Pfeiffer, after shielding Jules from debris when the North Tower collapses, immediately heads back in to try and coordinate rescue efforts.** Tony, who goes with Larry Byrnes and spends most of the day (and night) trying to rescue people. He's the last of the firemen to return to the firehouse.** By extension, all of the first responders, who valiantly try to coordinate rescue efforts and make their way up the tower as it's burning.* DevelopingDoomedCharacters:** Although the entire crews of both Engine Company 7 and Ladder Company 1 all survive the day's events, the first half-hour of the film is spent showcasing their time in the firehouse.** A handful of critics blasted the film for its excessive focus on neophyte firefighter Tony - first with his training, then with the fact that he was the very last of the firefighters to return to the firehouse, feeling that despite the fact that it was RealLife, its creators couldn't resist [[TropesAreTools manipulating the audience]] with the cliched fear that the NaiveNewcomer was going to perish in the disaster (an inversion of {{Retirony}}).* DisasterMovie: It's actually not that far off - a film crew embedded with the fire department responding to a minor call just happens to capture an incredibly destructive terrorist act and follows the firefighters into harms way, recording the whole time. In the end, despite thousands dying, the entire main cast--including the veteran ''and'' the rookie--survives. If you wrote a movie with that plot you'd have fanboys telling you it's [[RealityIsUnrealistic unrealistic]].* DueToTheDead: One of the final scenes shows the FDNY's series of memorials and funeral services for the various firefighters, including Chief Pfeiffer's brother, Lieutenant Kevin Pfeifer from Engine 33.* EmergencyServices: This all started out as a simple film to follow people coming into this field.* EverybodyLives: Obviously averted in real life since over 343 FDNY personnel were killed that day, but everyone from the two companies that the Naudet brothers were following - Engine 7 and Ladder 1 - survived. However, they were a lucky few. Remember that over 75 FDNY firehouses lost at least one individual from their crew that day.* FadeToBlack:** When the South Tower falls, Jules and the firefighters run for cover to an escalator. Things fade to black not through the filmmaker's skill, but because of the dust from the collapsing building clogging everything.** When the North Tower collapses, only this time, Gedeon and the other firefighters are outside and run down the street. As Gedeon seeks shelter behind a car, we get the same effect.* AFatherToHisMen: Chief Pfeiffer, who is shown to be looking out for all of the immediate personnel around him (including Jules).* FogOfWar: Discussed. The firefighters inside the North Tower mention getting conflicting and contradictory reports, including a (false) report that a third plane is on its way into Manhattan.* ForegoneConclusion: The collapse of the World Trade Center towers.* {{Foreshadowing}}: One short sequence has Jules filming Tony talking to another member of the battalion on a raised fire-ladder's carriage, with both towers of the WTC unintentionally framed in the majority of the background. James Hanlon (the narrator) then notes that this footage was shot on September ''10''.* FromBadToWorse:** An audio clip from a local radio host covering the day's events mentions that, "What started out as a bad day... just gets worse and worse and worse."** The day's events: American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower. The elevators were knocked out, so the firefighters had to walk up 80 floors. Then United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower. The firefighters set up another command center. The radios didn't work. Then both towers fell.* GoryDiscretionShot: When Jules enters the lobby of the North Tower, he sees a woman on fire just out of his camera's frame. He makes a conscious decision not to film her out of respect.** Played relatively straight when one of the firefighters returns to Battalion 1 and describes finding body parts in Ground Zero.* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The first half-hour of the documentary is a somewhat-dull[[note]]Even the filmmakers felt this way - see "Cooking Show", above[[/note]] documentary about a rookie firefighter. Once Jules heads out on the morning of September 11th, he ends up recording one of the most important moments in American history, and the following footage details his experiences in the North and South Towers.* HeroicBSOD: ** Reverend Mychal Judge pacing back and forth in shock in the North Tower's lobby. He was subsequently killed when he was struck in the head by flying debris from the South Tower's fall.** The security guard who is paging the different elevators throughout the North Tower stops at one point and turns back to look at the firefighters with a dumbfounded expression on his face, and doesn't know what to do.** As Chief Pfeiffer and the other firefighters gather themselves together after the South Tower collapse.** A similar scene after the other group escapes the collapse of the North Tower and it occurs to Jules that his brother is probably dead--he outright states that he could feel himself shutting down because it was too much to deal with in the midst of all the chaos.* INeedAFreakingDrink: The first thing retired chief Larry Byrnes says when he arrives at the Battalion 1 firehouse is, "Somebody get me a cup of coffee."* IntrepidReporter: A very positive RealLife example of how it's done by brothers Jules and Gedeon Naudet. We also see other reporters reporting. Other intrepid reporters are seen and heard.* JitterCam: Here and there. Of note is that this is the real deal and the camera was actually ''less'' jittery than in movies such as ''Film/{{Cloverfield}}''.* JumpScare: United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower as Gedeon happened to be filming it. He and everyone else around was too distracted by the fire to notice it coming.* TheKenBurnsEffect: On the still photo of Father Judge's body being carried.* ManlyTears:** Among everyone back at the firehouse--in particular, Jules and Gedeon, who pair this with ManHug, collapsing in each others arms and bawling like children, having been separated the entire time and each fearing that the other was dead.* ManOnFire: Jules sees a woman on fire and screaming as he enters the lobby of the North Tower, although he chooses not to film it out of respect.* MonumentalDamage: The World Trade Center Towers.* MoodWhiplash: See HalfwayPlotSwitch above. The firefighters were working on a false alarm of a gas leak after a relatively boring few months. Suddenly, there was a roar overhead...and then the North Tower is rammed by a plane, snuffing out the first of 2,600 people who eventually would die.* MoveAlongNothingToSeeHere: After both towers collapse, several emergency people essentially tell Gedeon this. While they seem grumpy, you must give these people credit for keeping people out of harm's way when they probably wanted to be down there where the action was trying to help the wounded and find their lost buddies.* {{Narrator}}: James Hanlon, who happened to be on vacation that day - that's why he isn't in any of the [=9/11=] footage.* NaiveNewcomer: Jules, who is noted to have next-to-no formal camera training when he goes out with the battalion on the morning of the attacks.* NewMeat: The probationary firefighters, or "probies".* NothingExcitingEverHappensHere: Tuesday, September 11th started out as just another nice day among many days without any major fires.* OhCrap: Multiple times:** When the North Tower is hit, the firefighters can be heard offscreen shouting things like "Holy shit!"** Some of the interviewed firefighters reactions as they pulled up to the front of the North Tower:--> '''Firefighter Damian Van Cleaf''': "This....this is bad"--> '''Firefighter Joe Cassaliggi''' :"What do we do....W-What do we do for ''this''?"** After the South Tower is hit, the mood of the people watching from the street shifts from astonishment to fear.** When Jules sees Father Judge praying to himself, and starts to panic as a result.** Chief Pfeiffer's eyes opening wide when he hears the tower beginning to rumble above them while standing in the South Tower's lobby.* OldMaster: When retired chief Larry Byrnes arrives.* OneWomanWail: The soundtrack used when the brothers and Battalion 1 visit Ground Zero the next morning.* OutrunTheFireball: Averted. No one in the immediate area manages to outrun the dust cloud.* {{Overcrank}}: Some of the footage is slowed down for effect.* PointOfView: Watching this is the closest most people will ever have to actually being there.* PrecisionFStrike: One of the firefighters can be heard yelling 'fuck' repeatedly as the firefighters return to the Battalion 1 firehouse after the attacks. * RealLifeWritesThePlot: It was originally just about a probationary firefighter.* RightBehindMe: A very poignant version as the firefighters make their way back to the station. Gedeon has gotten there first, having had no choice as he was not allowed to go to the site of the disaster and look for his brother. He pesters the returning firefighters, asking if they've seen Jules or if they know where he is, getting increasingly frustrated, as no one can tell him. Finally, one of the firefighters tells him, "He's right behind you" and he turns around to see his brother walking into the station. Cue them hugging and each shedding many ManlyTears of relief that the other is all right.* RightManInTheWrongPlace:** No one would have blamed Jules if he had told the firefighters that he'd withdraw and return to their base while they handled this obviously major disaster. However, he not only followed them, but records: Chief Pfeiffer's initial emergency call (the first such call from a responder that day), the situation at the North Tower in the minutes following the first impact, and the only known footage of what was happening inside the South and North Towers. The footage is also one of only two confirmed instances of video footage that actually showed American Airlines Flight 11 flying into the North Tower (pretty much everyone saw United Airlines Flight 175's impact with the South Tower just 17 minutes later since the TV stations were already covering the North Tower impact when it hit).** This is also exemplified in Jules' unedited footage, which was released through the Freedom of Information Act. He's asked at least twice by fire officials who he is and why he's filming in the lobby, but Chief Pfeiffer tells them off by explaining that Jules is with him.* ScareChord: Each time a body impacts outside, the firefighters visibly jump.* ScareEmStraight: The films, pictures and survivors talking to the probies about their fire-related injuries.* SceneryGorn: Invoked, as Gedeon goes out specifically to film footage of the burning towers and the public's reactions. Later, he tries filming the disaster right after the towers have collapsed, only to be told to get back by emergency personnel. The next day, both brothers film hours of footage of Ground Zero and the damage to the nearby streets and buildings.* ScreamDiscretionShot: When Jules enters the World Trade Center lobby, he can hear a woman on fire screaming for her life.-->'''Jules Naudet:''' There was a person that was on fire just out of shot, and I decided that I didn't want to film that. I said, "No one should see this."* ScrewThisImOutOfHere:** As soon as the South Tower collapses, Chief Pfeiffer orders an immediate evacuation, and the firefighters he and Jules leave behind while looking for a way out end up exiting a different way without telling anyone.** The remaining firefighters of Ladder 1 and Engine 7 reach the North Tower's command lobby, which was abandoned, and immediately decide to flee the immediate area around the towers.* SendInTheSearchTeam: Averted. As Chief Pfeiffer and a group of other firefighters are preparing to go back in... the North Tower collapses.* SnipeHunt: It could be that the whole reason the retired chief sent Gedeon back into the firehouse for latex gloves was to ditch him. He probably didn't know nor care about the documentary at the time, though he did obviously do an interview for it later.* SquadNickname: Firefighters for whom fires don't happen are called "white cloud"s.* StockFootage: The interstitial shots that begin and end each segment consist of stock clips of New York and the Towers.* SurvivorGuilt: In the anniversary airings, several of the firefighters talk about how the experiences of that day have haunted them since then.* TagalongReporter: Chief Pfeiffer allows Jules to come into the North Tower lobby with him and film the firefighters and command groups going up the tower. It turns out to be the only known footage recorded inside both towers that day.* TalkingHeads: The firefighters and filmmakers talking about what happened.* ThisIsGonnaSuck: The look on everyone's face almost immediately when the first plane hits.-->'''Firefighter John O'Neill''': "Right then and there, I knew this was gonna be the worst day of my life as a firefighter..."* ThisIsReality: A man on the street watching the towers burn says "...this is just like ''Film/TheToweringInferno'', like in a movie."* VomitIndiscretionShot: When the firemen return to the firehouse.* VoxPops: Gedeon films (and gets interviews from) several shocked citizens who are watching what's happening at the towers. One of the bystanders states that the first plane impact likely cut access to all of the elevators in the North Tower, which later was discovered to be the case.* WaitHere: Tony is told to stay at the firehouse. He goes down the first opportunity he gets.* WhamShot: Jules panning up from Chief Pfeiffer's investigation of the gas leak to see the first plane hitting the North Tower.* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's probably a safe assumption that the gas smell really was a false alarm, but we never find out.* WhatNowEnding: It aired only six months after 9/11, the filmmakers were as stumped as all the viewers.* WhereAreTheyNow: By the time it was re-aired for the 1st, 5th, and 10th anniversaries of 9/11, CBS and the filmmakers had done a fair amount of follow-up. As of the most recent re-airing, several of the firefighters featured in the documentary have died due to 9/11-related illnesses. On a brighter note, Jules has since married and has two children.* YouGetMeCoffee: The Probie's job is to make the coffee.----